Policymakers need to raise the level of history instruction in U.S. schools by making state certification requirements for teachers of history more stringent, argues a report released today by the Lexington Institute in Arlington, Va.

Six education organizations, including the National Education Association and American Federation of Teachers, have created a partnership to support teachers in bringing African-American history to life for their students.

National common standards would make expectations for all students to succeed academically more equitable, contends Bob Rothman, a senior fellow for the Alliance for Excellent Education, in a brief released today by that organization.

The What Works Clearinghouse of the U.S. Department of Education explored the question of whether the Reading Recovery short-term tutoring intervention is effective with English-language learners, but it didn't come up with an answer.

The school board in Alameda, Calif., has reversed its decision to support an elementary school curriculum on anti-gay bullying. It had adopted the curriculum in May but voted this week to phase it out, according to the Associated Press.

In a speech to early-childhood-education researchers meeting at Georgetown University today, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan expressed his belief that high-quality preschool programs can create a level playing field for all students at the start of school.

For education reporters to write about teaching and learning, and give examples of how a curriculum plays out in the classroom, they need to have a chance to spend a considerable amount of time observing students and teachers.

High school and college students are known for being more keen on technology than many of their elders, but a blog post over at the Atlantic Wire suggests that Kindle textbooks and other kinds of e-books aren't catching on quickly with students.